New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul had successful arthroscopic knee surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews on Thursday in Pensacola, Fla. Team officials said Paul will be sidelined approximately four to six weeks.

Rusty Costanza/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul ices his left knee in the first half Friday against the Chicago Bulls at the New Orleans Arena.Paul will be on crutches for the next two-to-three weeks and will begin rehabilitation immediately. He will miss the Feb. 14 All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

In last week's overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls, Paul was injured after he collided into a camera, trying to save overthrown pass by forward David West. After the game, Paul said he initially twisted his left knee in a Jan. 27 game against the Golden State Warriors and hit his knee in the same spot when he collided into the camera.

An MRI test was performed Sunday and the results was reviewed by several top orthopedist specialists from around the country before Wednesday's decision for surgery was finalized.

“Obviously this is a tough thing for me,” Paul said in a statement Thursday. “I have been fortunate through my career as a basketball player to not have suffered many injuries. The main thing is for me to get back healthy and to help this team however I can. Everything happens for a reason and I know I will come back stronger than ever. I have the utmost confidence in Darren Collison to step up in my absence.”